As the opposition Congress and the ruling BJP trade charges over the recent flooding in parts of Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai informed the Legislative Assembly on September 19 that a probe will be ordered into disappearance of lakes, encroachments of lake beds, and benami properties in Bengaluru over the years.
Mr. Bommai said the probe would be ordered into encroachment of lake beds, encroachment of rajakaluves (storm water drains), and grant of permission for construction of buildings on lake beds in Bengaluru. The probe would reveal which government had given permission for construction on lake beds and encroachment of rajakaluves over the years. “The whole system has gone bad and political commitment is needed to protect lakes,” the Chief Minister said.
Reading out a Cabinet decision taken on April 19, 2017, during the previous Congress government led by Siddaramaiah to use lakes ‘which had lost their character’ for different purposes, Mr. Bommai alleged efforts were made in the past to remove lakes from survey maps. Following public outcry, the Siddaramaiah-led government had withdrawn the decision.
